The Boston Globe writes the following synposis of Misha Defonseca’s memoir Misha: A Memoire of the Holocaust Years: “6-year-old Misha is rescued at school in 1941 when her parents are arrested and deported. She is spirited away to the De Wael family and given a new name, Monique. Unhappy with her host family, she runs away in hopes of finding her parents. Over the next four years she wanders alone across Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Yugoslavia, across the Adriatic Sea by boat to Italy, then through Italy across the Alps to France and back to Belgium. Along the way, she is sheltered by packs of wolves, kills a German soldier, witnesses an eastbound freight train full of Jews, wanders into the Warsaw Ghetto, and escapes.”
Isn’t that an intriguing story? Gives one goosebumps just reading about it. Well, guess what. The memoir is false. Defonsceca isn’t even Jewish!
It seems that there is no end to what people will do to garener attention. This story has upset me on many levels. Of course, as a writer and someone who wishes to write a memoir at some point, I’m afraid memoirs will start losing credibilty. And then as a human being, I’m just disgusted by the fact that she pretends to be Jewish and was in Brussels during wartime. Read the full story here.
You know, we all have a story to tell, but our stories aren’t always meant to be read by the public. Defonsceca should have published her book as a work of fiction. The other alternative was to keep her story all to herself.
Back in the day, Tata and I saw Sixth Sense. Though I can’t stand when people eat in the theaters, I was starving and was munching on nachos as I glanced at the movie screen.
When Bruce Willis was shot and then appears on the bench, I turned to Tata and said, “he’s dead.” To which she replied, “Shut up! Your face in buried in those nachos. You can’t possibly know what’s going on.” We laughed and I said, “Okay, but he’s dead.”
When the movie finished, Tata turned to me and said, “How did you know?” The only response I had for her is this: As I mentioned earlier this week, I love to read. The biggest drawback to reading a lot is that I’m really good at determining ending to books and movies. All creative writing has similar nuances. And it’s not hard to figure out the endings if you know what to look for.
I was also able to figure out the movie Beautiful Mind. This time I wasn’t at the movies, but rather in the living room full of other people. At one point during the movie I said, “This guy is nuts. None of this is really happening.” Everyone turned and looked at me. “What?” I asked knowing full well what I did.
Who was the last person you hugged?
My plumber. Don’t ask.
Soup
Share a beauty or grooming trick or tip with us.
Hmmm…I don’t have a beauty secret. The embedded video has beauty tips from around the world, including China, Brazil, Norway, India, and Puerto Rico.
Salad
What does the color yellow make you think of?
Arroz amarillo con gondules (yellow rice with black-eyed peas).
Main Course
If you were to make your living as a photographer, what subject would your pictures revolve around?
Old buildings and architectures all around the world.
Dessert
What was the longest book you ever read?
Longest? I’m not sure, but I’m currently reading Lucia Lucia.
Okay, regular visitors now it’s your turn. Answer the question in the comment section.
George Carlin is one of my favorite comedians. His comedy is a nice combination of insight and laughs. Many are not aware that Carlin Filthy Words routine (listen to the embedded video) was central in the US Supreme Court decision to rule that the government has the right to regulate what appears on the public airwaves.
In honor of George Carlin, I dedicate this week’s Thursday’s Thirteen to Origin of Words.
Dreadlocks - It seems that back in the day Caucasians would call a black persons hair dreadful. Over the years, the black community took ownership of the word dreadful and named their hairstyle dreadlocks.(Source: a documentary on hair that I saw, but can’t remember the name)
Bimbo -This term for a floozie or loose woman, especially one of low intelligence, is from the Italian bambino, or baby. (Source)
Crap -The word crap, meaning excrement, is from an English dialectical word originally meaning chaff or the discarded husks of grain. (Source)
Dork -The original sense of dork is penis. It is probably an alteration of dick, dating to the early 1960s. (Source)
Dryrun - The earliest known usage of dry run dates to 1941 and is originally US Army slang for practice or dress rehearsal. But why dry? It either refers to booze or sex.Dry has been associated with the abstention from alcohol since the 15th century and was a common term during the Prohibition years of the 1920s and 30s. It is certainly possible that a military dry run lacks the kick or rush of actual combat, much like a dry drink lacks the kick of alcohol. The possible sexual connection is from the term dry fuck, or frottage, the rubbing of a couple’s bodies together while clothed. (Source)
Dyke - This term for a lesbian is a clipped form of bulldyker, an American slang term that dates to at least 1906. The origin is unknown, but the fact that bulldyker is the earliest known form by several decades limits the possibilities significantly. (Source) The word dyke is used as a derogatory term towards lesbians.
Ghost - Germanic origin. It dates back to the Old English period and the word gast. The general sense of the word is a spirit or soul and it is used in various specific contexts. (Source)
Jaywalk -This term for crossing the street in the middle of the block is U.S. slang dating to the early years of the 20th century. It comes from the sense of jay meaning a stupid person, a rube. (Source)
Keeping up with the Joneses - The expression keeping up with the Jonesesgot its start in 1913 as the title of a comic strip by Arthur R. “Pop” Momand. The strip detailed the lives of the McGinis family, who were envious of their neighbors, the Joneses. By the mid-1920s, the phrase was in common use. (Source)
Ku Klux Klan -Ku-Klux is a variation on the Greek kuklos meaning circle. The Klan is obviously from clan, with the k used for alliterative purposes. (Source)
Redneck -A redneck is a white, working class US southerner, often with provincial and insular attitudes. It is most likely a reference to the sun-burned necks of those who work in the fields all day. But it could be a reference to either anger or pellagra, which can both turn the neck red. (Source)
Spic - Spanish-speaking individuals with limited grasp of the English language say, with an accent, “ I don’t spic English.” Hence, the word Spic is used as a derogatory terms towards Hispanics and Latinos.(Source: Read it in one of my favorite books – When I was Puerto Rican)
Widow’s peak - A widow’s peak is the sharp angle of the hairline on the forehead of some people. It’s so called because it resembles the peak of a hood traditionally worn by women in mourning. (Source)
Diane over at The Stellar Life sent along this week’s Conversation Thursday.
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A friend is coming for Oscar night. My neighborhood has been experiencing the murder, stabbing, beating, of people within blocks of my residence in the lastmonth.
I am telling my friend to park in my building’s garage. I have lived in thismixed-retail/residential, huge complex for 15 years. Tenants who park in the 2-story garage have clickers to open the locked door in place after-hours. My friend will need to leave before the door shuts. I call my building’s management office for the garagehours:
Receptionist: “Good morning, Madison Marqutte.”
Me: “Good morning. What time does the garage close onSundays?
Receptionist: “Oh…I’ll have to check.” I wait. “Youneed to call the garage at xxx-xxxx.”
Me: Thanks, bye.
Garage Lady (G): Heydh?
Me: Hello?
G: Helkhgfo? (HEAVY ACCENT of some language)
Me: What time does the garge close this Sunday night?”
G: I no know. You call back.
Me: What? You don’t know when your garage closes?
G: I work just half hour. Call back 30 hyfgj hyug”
Me: Call back when?
G: I no know. Call back 10:30.
Me. Fine. 10:30
G: (hysterical now( NOOO! Y O Ucall back 10:30.
Me: Yes, 10:30
G: NO!!! (Yes, I’ve figured out her dilemma and mydesire to play is stopped by my desire to finih mycereal.) YOU CALL BACK 10:30!”
Me: “Thank you, bye.”
Click HERE for previous Conversation Thursday posts
What’s the heck is Conversation Thursday? Well, I’ve learned that I’m not a writer. I’m a dialoguist. I write dialogue first and then add the fixings. Every Thursday I post a conversation as a reminder of how people talk. It’s my hope that we learn the structure of believable dialogue and incorporate it in our storytelling. Submit your own conversations to auriacortes AT gmail DOT com and I’ll post it on this blog.
